BASOPHILS and BASOPHIL COUNT - Basophilic
activity is not fully understood but it is known to carry histamine, heparin
and serotonin. High levels are found in allergic reactions.

SODIUM - Sodium is the most abundant
cation in the blood and its chief base. It functions in the body to maintain
osmotic pressure, acid-base balance and to transmit nerve impulses. Very Low
value: seizure and Neurologic Sx.

Normal Adult Range: 135-146 mEq/L
Optimal Adult Reading: 140.5

POTASSIUM - Potassium is the major intracellular
cation. Very low value: Cardiac arythemia.

Normal Range: 3.5 - 5.5 mEq/L
Optimal Adult Reading: 4.5

CHLORIDE - Elevated levels
are related to acidosis as well as too much water crossing the cell
membrane. Decreased levels with decreased serum albumin may indicate water
deficiency crossing the cell membrane (edema).

Normal Adult Range: 95-112 mEq/L
Optimal Adult Reading: 103

CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) - The CO2
level is related to the respiratory exchange of carbon dioxide in the lungs
and is part of the bodies buffering system. Generally when used with the
other electrolytes, it is a good indicator of acidosis and alkalinity.

ANION GAP (Sodium + Potassium - CO2 + Chloride) -
An increased measurement is associated with metabolic acidosis due to
the overproduction of acids (a state of alkalinity is in effect). Decreased
levels may indicate metabolic alkalosis due to the overproduction of
alkaloids (a state of acidosis is in effect).

AST (Serum Glutamic-Oxalocetic Transaminase - SGOT )
- found primarily in the liver, heart, kidney, pancreas, and muscles.
Seen in tissue damage, especially heart and live

Normal Adult Range: 0 - 42 U/L
Optimal Adult Reading: 21

ALT (Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase - SGPT) - Decreased
SGPT in combination with increased cholesterol levels is seen in cases of a
congested liver. We also see increased levels in mononucleosis, alcoholism,
liver damage, kidney infection, chemical pollutants or myocardial infarction

Normal Adult Range: 0 - 48 U/L
Optimal Adult Reading: 24

ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE - Used
extensively as a tumor marker it is also present in bone injury, pregnancy,
or skeletal growth (elevated readings. Low levels are sometimes found
in hypoadrenia, protein deficiency, malnutrition and a number of vitamin
deficiencies

GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase) - Elevated
levels may be found in liver disease, alcoholism, bile-duct obstruction,
cholangitis, drug abuse, and in some cases excessive magnesium ingestion.
Decreased levels can be found in hypothyroidism, hypothalamic malfunction
and low levels of magnesium.

LDH (Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase) - Increases are
usually found in cellular death and/or leakage from the cell or in some
cases it can be useful in confirming myocardial or pulmonary infarction
(only in relation to other tests). Decreased levels of the enzyme may be
seen in cases of malnutrition, hypoglycemia, adrenal exhaustion or low
tissue or organ activity.

Normal Adult Range: 0 - 250 U/L
Optimal Adult Reading: 125

BILIRUBIN, TOTAL - Elevated in liver
disease, mononucleosis, hemolytic anemia, low levels of exposure to the sun,
and toxic effects to some drugs, decreased levels are seen in people with an
inefficient liver, excessive fat digestion, and possibly a diet low in
nitrogen bearing foods

CREATININE - Low levels are sometimes
seen in kidney damage, protein starvation, liver disease or pregnancy.
Elevated levels are sometimes seen in kidney disease due to the kidneys job
of excreting creatinine, muscle degeneration, and some drugs involved in
impairment of kidney function.

Normal Adult Range: .7 - 1.4 mg/dl
Optimal Adult Reading: 1.05

URIC ACID - High levels are noted in gout,
infections, kidney disease, alcoholism, high protein diets, and with toxemia
in pregnancy. Low levels may be indicative of kidney disease, malabsorption,
poor diet, liver damage or an overly acid kidney.

CHOLESTEROL - High density lipoproteins
(HDL) is desired as opposed to the low density lipoproteins (LDL), two types
of cholesterol. Elevated cholesterol has been seen in artherosclerosis,
diabetes, hypothyroidism and pregnancy. Low levels are seen in depression,
malnutrition, liver insufficiency, malignancies, anemia and infection.

THYROXINE (T4) - Increased levels are
found in hyperthyroidism, acute thyroiditis, and hepatitis. Low levels can
be found in Cretinism, hypothyroidism, cirrhosis, malnutrition, and chronic
thyroiditis.

THYROID-STIMULATING HORMONE (TSH)
- produced by the anterior pituitary gland, causes the release and
distribution of stored thyroid hormones. When T4 and T3 are too high, TSH
secretion decreases, when T4 and T3 are low, TSH secretion increases.

Creatine phosphokinase (CK) - Levels rise 4 to 8 hours after
an acute MI, peaking at 16 to 30 hours and returning to baseline within 4
days

25-200 U/L

32-150 U/L

CK-MB CK isoenzyme - It begins to increase 6 to 10 hours
after an acute MI, peaks in 24 hours, and remains elevated for up to 72
hours.

< 12 IU/L if total CK is <400 IU/L

<3.5% of total CK if total CK is >400 IU/L

(LDH) Lactate dehydrogenase - Total LDH will begin to rise 2 to 5
days after an MI; the elevation can last 10 days.

140-280 U/L

LDH-1 and LDH-2 LDH isoenzymes - Compare LDH 1 and LDH 2
levels. Normally, the LDH-1 value will be less than the LDH-2. In the acute
MI, however, the LDH 2 remains constant, while LDH 1 rises. When the LDH 1
is higher than LDH 2, the LDH is said to be flipped,
which is highly suggestive of an MI. A flipped pattern appears 12-24 hours
post MI and persists for 48 hours.

LDH-1 18%-33%

LDH-2 28%-40%

SGOT - will begin to rise in 8-12 hours and peak in 18-30
hours

10-42 U/L

Myoglobin - early and sensitive diagnosis of myocardial
infarction in the emergency department This small heme protein becomes
abnormal within 1 to 2 hours of necrosis, peaks in 4-8 hours, and drops to
normal in about 12 hours.